Aokigahara

A poem for the "suicide forest". I know the subject matter is disturbing, but I felt that I had to share this piece.

                               

Aokigahara 

 I've been walking through  the darkest forest

 For what feels like centuries  now.

 Every time I feel some kind  of atmosphere

 I stop and take it in.

 All I end up doing is corrupting it. 

 And it slips pass the threshold,

 All or nothing. 

 Once again.

 But the hollow woods have many secrets

 And the fog sticks close to the ground, 

 Serial killers morph into midnight shadows

 Lingering in your afterthoughts 

 Hiding underneath the dead leaves. 

 October has brought on Rigor Mortis 

 Barren branches contort to form hooks

 Catching ravens by the wings, 

 Sending them hurdling to the ground. 

 As thousands have done before. 

 I have came across bones on this soil

 Noose all strung on the trunks 

 Captivating the presence of their soul's

 Bounding them to their death bed. 

 Those who are lost are wanderers.

 Walking thorough the darkest forest,

 For what feels like centuries...

Author's Note

Reviews

[L. Edward Neale]

Interesting poem. Is that the famous suicide forrest near Mt Fuji? Theres a similar place in Nikko, Japan too. A friend of mine went to Kegon Falls in Nikko and took a photo and when the film was developed it showed the falls shilouetted by a skull face. I thought he had it photoshopped but he swears it wasn't. Creepy stuff if it was for real. Some places are cursed thats for sure.

[Kuro]

Just today I wrote a poem on the very same forest. A friend of mine came over today and showed me a video about it, and I too felt compelled to share the story out of respect for the dead. It's horrifying and sad, isn't it? Thank you for sharing this piece.

[Celestial Witch Child]

Magnificently haunting. Beautiful work as always. (:

[Coyote Poetry]

I like the mystery of the forest. Nature had many secrets. If we do not respect them. Bad thing can happen. I enjoyed your tale. Photo gave life to the words. Thank you for the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[Samantha Lynn]

I loved this, just like i love all of your peoms lol for some reason the song fit with this peom quite well and I actually played it while reading this? Not that I ususally don't... I am just saying that this song worked well... idk lol Well, I like this. I think my favorite line is where it says "all who are wanderers are lost." Maybe because it is true? When I am lost I just wander until I find myself again and i know that is what everyone else does also. this one is probably my favorite so far so it get a 110 rating hehe xD Great job! :D

[Aarontastic]

What an oddly beautiful forest; I can see why so many people apparently choose it to be their final resting place. Not to be creepy. But I've heard about this forest just yesterday actually, and I wanted to do a story about it because it's really interesting how a spot like this could become such a popular place for suicides - it's like even in death, people can't stand being alone.

Anyways, about your poem! It's really beautiful, and I feel like you captured the spirit of Aokigahara perfectly. The way you started the poem off from the perspective of a wandering spirit, later revealed (or at least heavily hinted at) as being one of the victims of the forest was very clever. I also like the way the poem was organized, with a few sparse verses at the beginning and the end, and the heart of the poem in the middle.

Each of the three main stanzas were really moving, but this had to be my favorite one:

October has brought on Rigor Mortis
Barren branches contort to form hooks
Catching ravens by the wings,
Sending them hurdling to the ground.

Especially that first line; I love it!

I also love Evanescence, but I probably would have picked a more traditional Japanese song to go along with this poem. Your choice works too though, and it was a good idea to include it and a picture to give readers a better feel of the place you're writing about. I really like your style and will def. be checking out more of your stuff soon (:

[Dayran]

A trip into a part of our experiences that evokes despair and deep anguish. The feeling it evokes is sadly not one of purpose, as in rising again, but it merely plays at being loser.

[Owlgirl]

wow! I am impressed! that was very dark and creepy, excellent excellent excellent poetry!

[Sean]

Interesting concept, death walks, my favourite line was

"Catching ravens by the wings,

Sending them hurdling to the ground."

But..."Hurdling" is to "hurdle", leap, or jump. I think you're looking for the word "hurtling" which is to be travelling at a fast speed. :)

[VelvetRosetta]

Yes I have heard of the suicide forest in Japan, referring to L.Edwards comment, this is exactly what I was thinking as I read this...It is an awesome poem thought out thoroughly...it was penned in such a way that makes one want to read it again and again though some may find disturbing, I see life in these words...they scream in a powerful way...